Chiranjeevulu (1956 film)

Chiranjeevulu is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film, produced by D. L. Narayana under Vinoda Productions banner and directed by Vedantam Raghavayya. It is a partial remake of the Hindi film Mela (1948). The film stars N. T. Rama Rao and Jamuna, with music composed by Ghantasala. It was released on 15 August 1956 and became a commercial success.

Plot
The film begins in a village where Mohan & Sarada are neighbors, and since childhood, they have adored each other. Plus, their love flourishes in the form of a garden where they plant two dolls as their token. At two ends, their respective fathers, Ramadasu & Rayudu, accept, but Sarada's lavish mother, Govindamma, & her uncle Ratnam relish it. Once, Mohan & Sarada visit a fair where Dr. Krishna, darling Sarada at first sight, and Ratnam gets acquainted with him. Meanwhile, the elders knit turtle doves when Mohan proceeds to collect wedding accessories. Amid, thieves hit him, and he is critical at the hospital. Exploiting it, Ratnam calls off the nuptial by forging Mohan as an imposter and fixes Sarada's alliance with Krishna. Being conscious of it, Mohan rushes, but it is too late; his bullock cart turns upside down, and he loses his eyesight. Next, Sarada proceeds to her in-law's residence, where she molds as a benevolent wife, and Krishna titles her Radha. Dejected, Mohan attempts suicide, but Krishna shields and shelters him. Here, Sarada quiets her true self and serves him as Radha. After a while, Krishna recoups his vision and returns to his village. Once, Mohan revisits Krishna's residence to retrieve his missed childhood doll when he collapses, discerning Sarada as Krishna's wife. At present, Ratnam extorts Sarada, a biased Krishna, who suspects her fidelity. Grief-stricken, Mohan sits at the temple starving when Janaki, his sister, imparts truth to Krishna via Ratnam. Till then, Sarada consumes poison when Krishna lifts her on a cyclonic night and drives to their childhood garden. Finally, he allows Sarada to die before Mohan, who succumbs to the shock.

Cast
Adapted from The Hindu:


 * N. T. Rama Rao as Mohan
 * Jamuna as Sarada
 * Gummadi as Krishna
 * C. S. R. Anjaneyulu as Rayudu
 * B. Narasimha Rao as Ramadasu
 * Peketi Sivaram as Ratnam
 * Balakrishna as Satyam
 * Suryakantham as Akhilandamma
 * Chhaya Devi as Govindamma
 * Surabhi Balasaraswati as Janaki
 * Mahankali Venkayya
 * Allu Ramalingam

Production
Chiranjeevulu was directed by Vedantam Raghavayya and produced by D. L. Narayana under Vinoda Productions. It was remade from the Hindi film Mela (1948), but Raghavayya, Narayana and dialogue writer Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry made substantial changes to the screenplay, one of them being the male lead going blind which did not happen in the Hindi original. While the female lead in Mela is unable to marry the male lead and instead forced to marry a much older widower who has children, the female lead in Chiranjeevulu marries a "young eligible bachelor". N. T. Rama Rao was chosen to play the male lead Mohan, reprising the role originally played by Dilip Kumar. He wore contact lenses to portray his character when blind. The scene where a blind Mohan attempts suicide by walking into the way of an incoming train and is saved by the doctor Krishna was shot at Chengalpattu junction railway station. While filming this scene, Gummadi, who played Krishna, fell but managed to get up and to push an oblivious Rama Rao out of the train's way. It was not written in the script that Krishna had to fall, but the filmed scene was retained. Jamuna played the female Sarada, portrayed by Nargis in Mela where the character was known as Manju. Chiranjeevulu was her first film with Raghavayya, who would frequently help correct her acting over the course of the film's production. Cinematography was handled by V. N. Reddy, and the editing by R. Hanumantha Rao. Principal photography took place primarily at Revathy Studios, Madras.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Ghantasala, and the lyrics were written by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry. The songs "Thellavaaraga Vachhe", "Kanupaapa Karuvaina Kanulenduko" and "Yendaka Yendaka" attained popularity.

Release and reception
Chiranjeevulu was released on 15 August 1956 and became a commercial success. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Amarageetham.